Bono + VEVO = Uh-oh
Bono was in New York City Tuesday night to help launch VEVO, a music/video site that’s kinda like a Hulu for the music industry. It’s like YouTube, but more of an official source for music-related video content. It’ll eventually be monetized so the music industry can say it’s making money on the web and all that stuff, yadda-yadda-yadda.
Anyhoo, this post isn’t about VEVO; it’s about Bono, who apparently didn’t come across too well in his opening remarks. You’ll never believe this, but Bono was over-the-top in some of his praise for this new venture. (Bono? Over-the-top? Noooooo! Yes. Srsly.) This comment is catching some flak:
“Friends, we are gathered here today to mourn the passing of the old model that was the music business.”
The LA Times was so taken aback by Bono’s comments that they said this:
“In terms of what Vevo ultimately means, one thing is certain. Do not listen to U2’s Bono.“
Yes, they actually bolded that part. Like they’ve never heard Bono speak like that before? Listen, Bono has never met a hyperbole he didn’t want to hug. It’s what makes him … Bono.
Yer man also ticked off Bill Werde, Editor of Billboard magazine, and a nice guy whom I’ve traded emails with in the past. He was at the launch and said this on Twitter:
Ouch. Yeah. Not sure Bono needed to throw Billboard under the rug so he could hype the music industry’s newest effort to get a slice of the online pie. An effort, by the way, that CNET News called a music site we didn’t need. If VEVO ends up as lame as that article suggests, this’ll be one speaking gig Bono may wish he hadn’t accepted.
Last 4 posts by m2
- Blair: Bono "could have been a president or prime minister" - September 2nd, 2010
- U2 is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame - August 30th, 2010
- Guess Who Won Bono's Shades? - August 23rd, 2010
- It's a Thin Line Between Trusting & Crazy - August 21st, 2010
has U2 just turned into corporate automons? Bono actually THANKED Live Nation every night here in the states during the 360 tour, as though there was something exemplary about their money-grubbing and fan-screwing. now he’s the excitable parrot of the music industry.
and he’s right about one thing – billboard is worthless. not a shred of insight, it’s just a tool of the record companies once again. but vevo is so useless – don’t call someone else out if you’re doing the exact same thing.
Although i agree that thanking Live Nation every night was offputting, they’re not the only money grubbers. U2 get’s the vast majority of money spent on a ticket.
As for billboard, it’s a trade magazine that’s of interest to anybody that works in a record store, radio station, manages a band or any part of the music business. Unless something has changed, it’s definitely not a tool of the labels.
All in all, I like them a lot more than I like Live Nation.
U2 has been a corporation for a long time. Shouldn’t surprise anybody. Heck, have you seen the infamous Godfather video? That was made FOR the label only! And it was made in the ’80’s. That’s how a band like U2 stays as big as it is. Thanking every company along the way… Just good business.
Now, insofar as Bono’s speech, well, how many times over the years has Bono inserted foot in mouth? A heck of a lot! That’s just Bono being Bono…